JURIST - Paper Chase: Italian prosecutors complete CIA kidnapping probe

[JURIST] Italian prosecutors Saturday announced the end of their investigation into the alleged CIA kidnapping [JURIST news archive; WP timeline] of Egyptian cleric Osama Moustafa Hassan Nasr in 2003. The cleric, also known as Abu Omar, was seized on the streets of Milan, supposedly by CIA agents with the help of Italy’s Military Intelligence and Security Service (SISMI) [official website; Wikipedia backgrounder]. Prosecutors are seeking the arrest of 26 Americans believed to be involved in the incident, one of many alleged instances of extraordinary rendition [JURIST news archive] where terror suspects have been detained and transferred to third countries to face interrogation and sometimes torture.

The completion of the investigation follows the arrests of two Italian intelligence officers [JURIST report] in June. It is not known whether the Americans believed to be involved in the kidnapping will face trial in Italy or be tried in absentia [JURIST report], as the Italian justice department has said it would not seek the extradition of the CIA operatives [JURIST report]. AP has more. Il Giornale has local coverage.

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